adaptation-blog

[adaptation-blog]

Camerawork

Our primary ethos with camera was to emphasise stillness. For this reason, our camera movements were sparce and only motivated by important climactic beats and character emotions. Otherwise, we wanted to isolate characters in the still frames inspired by the style of Chantel Akerman who uses still wides to accentuate an oppressive domestic environment. This is also the reason for our use of wides; we wanted to isolate characters in wide frames making them look small and insignificant before moving to more CUs as the film progressed to show tension and connections between characters. Close ups separate Archie and Felix highlighting their growing divide and disconnection; whereas Berkley and Felix are joined in close intimate two shots showing their close connection, this idea reaches a crescendo when they hug. This difference distinguishes Felix’s inner feelings for the two characters. The film is constructed in wides and close ups, allowing for coverage and a distinct and consistent visual style. This visual style is built on in the final shot a wide dutch angle, with noir inspirations, which shows the changed world which comes as a result of the films events.

[adaptation-blog]

Lighting

Our lighting has a heavy influence from Neo Noir and modern surveillance equipment; these influences are motivated by our genre of Crime. Through lighting we wanted to emphasise an uncomfortable, unwelcoming, and harsh environment. For these reasons we chose to use lowkey lighting creating a chiaroscuro effect, our lighting should create deep shadows and harsh lines in the frame; this effect was aided by a low ISO. The lighting in our piece is motivated by on set elements such as streetlamps in our exterior night scene, these created warm, dynamic effects which we wanted to emphasise showing the connection between Berkley and Felix. Our kitchen location has interior windows, we wanted to utilise these windows to set the time with lighting which changes colour tone between each shot becoming warmer in the day and colder at night; the window frame also allowed us to create interesting shadows as it interrupted the lighting. Our bedroom location gave us lots of control over the lighting, being in a basement we were able to block out exterior lighting; this was achieved by covering the grate which let in light from the street with a blanket. This meant we could have full control of the light which came in through the window, and film a lowkey night scene during the day. The flashbacks had a different ethos when it came to lighting as we wanted to emphasize the divide between past and present, for this reason the flashbacks had bright colours to highlight the vivid nature of his past life; this also shows how Felix’s trauma still haunts him ten years later.

[adaptation-blog]

MoodBoard

[adaptation-blog]

An "Idea"

An elderly man lies awake in bed in a grey and depressing hospital room; the man is hooked up to IVs and various monitors holding him to the mortal realm.

The elderly man will certainly die soon without further help, yet due to losing his wealth after a series of bad investments in religious streaming services alas he cannot afford the bill.

His grandson, a spry healthy homosexual saunters in to the room being let in by a nurse.

The nurse leaves promptly after the grandfather makes a comment about the roundness of her ass.

After some slow surface level small talk about the grandfathers failing health, the grandson reveals that his husband has offered to pay the grandfather’s medical bill despite his explicit homophobia.

The grandfather is disgusted and as an evangelical he refuses to accept the help, and exclaims that he has been able to this far in life without accepting help from queers and will do just fine without.

The grandson reveals the payment has however already been made, this infuriates the grandfather further causing him to shout and scold all whilst being deeply homophobic (slurs).

The grandson is ambivalent having done all he can and thus he leaves the room knowing that his grandfather in his bedridden state has no choice but to take the treatment he has provided.

We see the grandson begin to talk to the nurse through a window to the corridor.

We sit again with the grandfather for a moment he begins to to prey asking for forgiveness for what he is about to do.

He slowly sits up and starts pulling out wires and pipes that were keeping him alive before tossing himself to the floor.

Upon the impact the grandfather breaks his neck and chokes for a moment before ceasing to move.

The nurse and the grandson rush into the room after noticing the grandfathers slumped over body through the window. The Nurse checks his pulse before shaking her head, the grandson can't help but respond "He was gagged", prompting the nurse to state "slay".

[adaptation-blog]

Group Meeting 1, 20/01/24 -

- Discussed Roles within our group

- Discussed Short Stories, which we thought were notable, and our ideas for adaptations

- Going forward, we plan to read the short stories that other group members liked and construct synopsis for one idea